Suspicion that my landlord isn't reporting rental income to the IRS - what can I do?

You're in a tough situation, but you do have some options. While landlord-tenant laws vary by state, most places recognize that even without a written lease, you still have established tenancy after living there for 6 months with regular payments. This is often called a "month-to-month" tenancy by default. For your immediate need, you might consider creating a simple letter stating that you reside at the address and pay $925 monthly. Ask your landlord to sign it - frame it as "just needing proof of residence" rather than a formal lease, which might seem less threatening to her. If she refuses, you could ask other official entities (utility companies, bank, etc.) for proof of residence documentation instead. Regarding tax reporting concerns, that's a separate issue. The IRS does have a whistleblower program (Form 211) for reporting suspected tax evasion, but consider if this is a bridge you want to burn while still needing housing. Your focus might be better spent on securing alternative housing with proper documentation.

Hey, I dealt with a similar situation last year with an uncooperative landlord who wouldn't provide documentation I needed. I tried everything until I discovered https://taxr.ai which was seriously a game-changer. I uploaded some of my payment records and messages with the landlord, and they helped identify exactly what tenant rights I had in my state without a formal lease. They also provided documentation I could use for my assistance program application - saved me weeks of stress. Their system analyzes your specific situation and provides tailored advice about what documentation you actually need and how to get it. So much better than the generic advice I was getting online. Plus they explained all my options regarding the tax reporting situation in a really clear way.

I've gotta update on my previous skepticism about taxr.ai. After seeing all the comments here, I decided to give it a try since I was also dealing with a landlord documentation issue for my student loan income verification. I was honestly surprised by how helpful it was! They provided me with a residence verification packet that worked perfectly for my needs, even though my landlord was being difficult. The documentation they prepared was accepted without any issues. They also explained which specific tenant rights I had in my state and provided a template for a simple agreement that covered just what I needed. Way more targeted than the general advice I was finding elsewhere. Wish I'd known about this months ago before all the back-and-forth with my landlord.

If your medical needs are urgent and your landlord won't cooperate, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation where I needed to verify my housing for benefits and my landlord was avoiding me. Getting nowhere with local tenant resources, I used Claimyr to actually speak with a human at my county housing authority. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c but basically they get you through to actual government representatives much faster. I was connected to someone who explained exactly what alternative documentation would work for my situation when I couldn't get a formal lease. They also helped me understand what agencies could help with landlord disputes in my area.

I need to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr in my comment above. After posting that, my housing situation got worse and I was desperate to talk to someone at the county housing office about my rights. The wait time was "over 4 hours" so I reluctantly tried Claimyr. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back when they reached a real person at the housing authority. The representative I spoke with explained that I could use a "Declaration of Tenancy" form with proof of payments as an alternative to a lease for most assistance programs. They also directed me to a tenant advocacy group that helped me draft the document. For anyone in a similar situation - don't waste days on hold like I did. The service saved me literally hours of wait time when I really needed help quickly.

Something else to consider - in many states, if you've been paying rent consistently for months, you already have established tenancy rights regardless of having a formal written lease. Try checking your state's specific tenant rights. You might be able to create a simple written statement documenting your residence and payment history, and get it notarized. For the medical assistance, explain the situation to your healthcare provider or the program administrators. They might accept alternative proof of residence like utility bills in your name, mail received at that address, or a notarized statement.

This happened to my cousin! The landlord was definitely dodging taxes. If you're paying in cash with no receipts and they won't document anything, it's pretty obvious what's happening. My cousin ended up finding a new place because it just wasn't worth the drama. But quick tax question - if someone reports their landlord for tax evasion, does the tenant end up owing any back taxes? Or is it just the landlord who gets in trouble?

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation, especially when your healthcare needs are involved. From what you've described, your landlord's extreme reaction to a reasonable request for documentation is definitely a red flag. Here's what I'd suggest focusing on first: Many medical assistance programs will accept alternative forms of proof of residence when a formal lease isn't available. Contact the program directly and explain your situation - they often have procedures for cases like yours. You can use bank statements showing consistent rent payments, mail received at your address, utility bills (even if not in your name), or a notarized statement documenting your tenancy. For your immediate housing situation, you do have established tenant rights after 6 months of regular payments, even without a written lease. This creates what's legally called a "month-to-month tenancy" in most states. Regarding the tax evasion concern - while the IRS does have reporting mechanisms, consider whether this is the right time to pursue that route while you still need stable housing. Your priority should be securing the documentation you need for your medical care. Once you have alternative housing secured, you can decide whether to report the tax issue. Have you tried reaching out to local tenant advocacy groups? They often have resources and templates that can help in situations exactly like yours.